Cantwell confirms that Coronado has not yet formally withdrawn the lawsuit but is able to share the following:

I can say that we’ve agreed not to use the word Idiot in the future. The beer in question will be called Savant. As we would with any of our colleagues in the craft brewing industry we will welcome our friends at Coronado to our local market, once they get here. I doubt that we will be collaborating with them on any projects.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, Coronado CEO, Ron Chapman, suggested that the two companies “may explore cooperative projects with one another.” It doesn’t look like we will be seeing a Collaboration, Not Litigation Ale redux from the two anytime soon, however.

As for the name, “Savant,” it appears to be free to use on a beer, according to the USPTO trademark database. A winery did just register the name in June. Though it isn’t as common to see producers go after one another across beverage categories, it does happen. Recall that Firestone Walker had to get a new name for Abacus due to a winery’s trademark. And let’s never forget that the maker of Monster Energy Drink went after Rock Art Brewery.

Cantwell continues…

On a related note, we were recently contacted by a startup in California, wanting to name themselves Analog Ales and offering us a thousand dollars for use of the word Analog, since we brewed a beer called that a year or so ago. We have agreed to let them use the name, but the price we asked was one dollar. I predict that there will be many such confluences of inspiration in the future within our industry, with many different types of outcome.

As long as they don’t file a trademark application for it, Elysian can move forward though a warning to Perennial: Elysian filed a trademark application for a beer in the Manic IPA Series, Prometheus IPA, so they may do the same for Savant.

Whatever they decide to re-name the Idiot Sauvin IPA, I can’t wait to drink some more of it! That beer is deeeelicious. The best use of Nelson Sauvin hops that I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the Prometheus IPA and Loser Pale of late as well. Elysian is killing it!

First off, I’ve never heard of Coronado Brewing. Second, I’ve lived all over the world, trying beer in Germany, the UK, Ireland, and all across the US and Canada (I’ve never been to Belgium). That being said, the beers of the Pacific NW are my favorite, and IPAs are my favorite variety. Elysian is my favorite brewery, hands down. When Coronado says there is different quality between these beers, I must assume that their beer sucks and will not be purchasing it, as Elysian’s beers are always delicious.

Sounds like it’s fitting that the guys at Coronado own the trademark “idiot.” I’ve had their Islander IPA when in San Diego and enjoyed it, but Elysian makes at least 5 better IPAs including the one at issue here.